Fantasies of a Housewife Read online

  Fantasies of a Housewife

  By

  Christie Bell

  CR Garmen

  Scarlett Jade

  Sophia Jones

  Adera Orfanelli

  Nulli Para Ora

  April Postlewaite

  Tina Pollick

  Elizabeth Rose

  Sky Tillery

  ©2013 by Pollick Publishing at Smashwords. All rights reserved

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Cover artist: Tina Pollick

  This is a collection of short stories by various authors. The maximum word count was five thousand words and the theme was ‘Fantasies of a Housewife’. We hope you enjoy it.

  Table of Contents

  Christie Bell

  CR Garmen

  Scarlett Jade

  Sophia Jones

  Adera Orfanelli

  Nulli Para Ora

  April Postlewaite

  Tina Pollick

  Elizabeth Rose

  Sky Tillery

  Summer Diane

  by

  Christie Bell

  Chapter One

  The summer heat was more strenuous for Diane than it had been in her youth. Middle age crept upon her and the heat seemed overwhelming. She fanned herself at her neighbor’s tennis court and wondered what middle aged women did before air conditioning. Beads of sweat swelled and fell down her chest wetting her whites.

  “Diane you really must!” Diane turned; she had not been listening to her flighty neighbor talk. Carolyn droned on and on. Diane would often go off into daydream world when Carolyn spoke.

  “I am sorry Carolyn, what must I do?” Diane said trying to be friendly, her husband always harped that she was too reserved.

  “You must meat Alex’s son silly! His son by his crazy first wife that always gives me such a go of it!” She wasn’t even sweating; she really got on Diane’s nerves. The perfection of a sweet natured trophy wife flopping against the jaded disillusionment of a middle aged woman was grating to her nerves.

  “Of course I will Carolyn.” she said forcing a smile.

  Carolyn chattered on for the next few hours and hardly any of it really registered with Diane. They had made their way to the pool and Diane had braided her long, dark hair down the side over her shoulder. Carolyn’s short, blonde hair seemed to accent her sunnier disposition.

  Carolyn made them margaritas in her blender chatting away about some charity event and Diane was preparing to enter the water when her phone rang.

  A chill passed down her spine despite the sweltering day. She saw that the number was her husband’s.

  “Mark?” she asked hurriedly, she knew something was wrong. He would never call in the middle of vacation with his friends.

  “Diane?” he asked, he sounded weak, and “Tom is calling the ambulance Diane. I don’t think I am going to make it. Listen, I love you… I love you. Remember the will is in the lock box and call Frank, he will take care of everything.”

  “Mark, my god stop talking like that!” she said, she felt sick. “Everything will be fine, I love you. Everything is going to be fine!” Carolyn was fluttering near her and Diane waved her away.

  “Diane… just know that I love you.” she heard the phone fall and Tom pick it up. “Diane??”

  “Tom, good lord, what is happening??” she asked, panicked.

  “Diane, I think he is dead, there has been a horrible accident.” He said, he sounded like he was in shock, “He insisted on calling you, but my god… I just can’t, the ambulance is here. I will let you know as soon as I know where they are taking him.”

  Diane dropped the phone and saw her screen crack on the concrete poolside.

  Chapter Two

  At the funeral everyone walked by Diane and said things. She tuned them out as much as she tuned out Carolyn’s overly dramatic crying. Her husband’s friends, her friends, their family, everyone was SO SORRY and WHAT A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT and IF YOU NEED ANYTHING LET ME KNOW. “I need my husband back.” she thought bitterly.

  Diane and Mark had been together since high school. They always knew they would be married. Neither of them wanted children, they wanted to enjoy themselves and each other. They did. And then he died.

  The accident had been a blood bath. A tractor had accidentally backed over Mark. He used his last breath to call his wife.

  She numbly sat through the viewing. Everyone looked at her as if expecting some breakdown, Diane never broke down. She was not a child; she was in the thralls of the numbness of adulthood.

  Diane remembered being young. Everything was new and fresh. Now everything was the same monotonous shit. Sure Mark died but she had to deal with the will. She has to make house payments and pay bills. She has to do all of the things she does plus all of the things Mark does. A woman has no time for frivolous tears.

  Carolyn had made her way over to Diane, “... So what do you think??” Diane looked at her blankly… ‘Think?’

  “I am sorry Carolyn. I was a million miles away. What did you need?”

  Carolyn giggled, “You are always a million miles away when I am talking, and I guess I do go on and on.” She paused expecting a negation that did not occur and continued, “What do you think of our darling Adam coming to stay with you for the summer? You know to help and such? He could be your employee! He is home from college and is such a precious child I swear I have never known one so endearing!”

  Diane wondered that Carolyn ever drew breath. “Sure, Carolyn, I will set the boy up in the guest cottage. I could use help around the house.”

  The rest of the day was a daze for Diane. The insect like humming of well wishers droned by her head. She could not wait to be back in her own bed and forget the whole thing ever happened.

  Chapter Three

  Diane had learned that Carolyn’s step son was named Adam. She hoped that he would be some help to her this summer. She instinctively knew that Carolyn was trying to get rid of him so that she could enjoy the rest of the summer by herself.

  Honestly, a little company did not seem like a bad idea after all that had happened even though she was not sure she wanted a near stranger in her house. She had committed to the interloper during her dazed state.

  Carolyn had directed the housekeeper to ready their tiny guest cottage for Adam. She and Mark were private people who rarely ever had guests. The white linens for the cottage had been purchased over ten years ago and had rarely been used.

  She had a strong streak of independence but in truth the loss of her love was heart crushing. His loss caused a heavy air to be cast over her home. Even her maid and gardener seemed to feel the effects of the loss.

  Carolyn had barely changed out of yoga pants and a tank since the funeral. With no Mark there was no reason, no reason to change, no reason to eat, no reason.

  She checked
her Facebook and there were hundreds of messages on hers and Marks page. It was clearly time to take a Facebook break.

  She decided to post, “Hey guys! Thank you so much for all of your condolences. I am going to take a short internet break. If you need to reach me feel free to hit me on my cell or stop by the house.”

  Good enough. Sometimes the grieving isn’t just about us. She sighed and stood up. Her small, rescued tabby “Jacob” was twirling around her feet. He knew daddy was gone. Animals just know.

  She could feel the tears building inside her and she crushed them down.

  Adam should be arriving soon, in truth she felt sorry for the boy. Diane knew his father to be a cold fish who sucked the life out of woman after woman. Carolyn is the only one that seemed to cling to the relationship. She didn’t love his father but she certainly loved the lifestyle he could afford her.

  The doorbell rang. Diane opened the door. There stood Adam. She knew him by sight for he was the physical representation of all the women to which his father seemed drawn. He was lean, athletic, blonde, tanned; hazel eyed and expressed a warm countenance. Diane felt a wave of heat pass over herself looking at this child.

  “Diane? Hi I am Adam; I know you haven’t seen me since I was a kid…” Diane inhaled. She had worked continuously these last weeks to conceal herself. She was practiced. Even if she wanted this child she knew she must not allow these thoughts to creep in to her head.

  “Adam”, she said taking his hand in hers, “You are most welcome here darling.” She smiled warmly. It was the smile of the actress that had won over since the death of her husband.

  Adam entered the house. His long, lean body had the grace of a dancer. His blonde hair seemed to dance around the masculine angles of his face. He had not entered the stage of his life where everything seems to thicken.

  Diane had watched the thickening change her husband with sweet love but to see the litheness of this child ignited a flame in her belly. The heat was deep and primal.

  Adam was walking around the house chattering. Diane wondered when she became such a good filter of chatter. His back was to her and she admired the width of his shoulders and the litheness of his waist. He turned to her, “I am sorry Diane, I am chattering away like a girl.” He smiled and flashed a sideward glance.

  “It’s ok Adam, I appreciate the company. I have been alone in my thoughts for too long. Betsy is a keen observer of the traditional roles between housekeeper and lady. I have told her we can talk but she refuses. I don’t know what I would do without her but she leaves me to myself. Here, let’s get your bags and we can walk you to the cottage.”

  They walked out to Adam’s compact and removed his meager belongings. A laptop and a few bags of clothing was all he owned aside from his little car.

  Diane remembered the days when everything she owned could fit in her car. She glanced around at the flowers and paths for which their old gardener cared. He had a way with flowers and roses lined the path to the small guest cottage.

  Adam carried the majority of his bags only allowing Diane to carry his laptop and necessities. When they got to the cottage she gave him his copy of the key and they walked in. It was truly a small cottage, really just an efficiency apartment. The main room had a cream colored pull out sofa, a television, a desk and a small kitchenette. The only other room was a bath with a claw foot tub, a toilet and sink.

  “I am sorry it is small...” Diane said uncomfortably

  “Hey- it’s bigger than my dorm room and surely a lot more comfortable than listening to Carolyn and Dad fight and fuck and fuck and fight.” He laughed. Diane blushed at the intimacy of the statement.

  “Ok, I will just let you settle in then.” Diane said eager to escape. She had broken out into a glistening sweat, “Oh and the air conditioning controls are by the bathroom door, and sorry we didn’t turn them on before you got here.”

  “It’s ok, I prefer it hot.” He smiled in a way that made Diane uncomfortable.

  Chapter Four

  Diane had settled the minor events with the estate in a few weeks. Frank had been a huge help. He was a compassionate man and had always been like a father to Mark. Betsey had managed the household well and old gardener had taken care of the grounds. Adam maintained the pool, took the grocery delivery in and ran all of the errands.

  Now that the estate was for all intents and purposes settled Diane realized she had managed everything so well she had nothing to do. She started going through all of Mark’s belongings. It seemed like he would want her to pass on all of his suits and she thought that Adam and Mark was of a similar size.

  Even when the thickness of middle age had started to settle on Mark he was still lean.

  She called Adam in and asked him if he would be interested in trying on any of Mark’s suits.

  “Sure Diane, if that will help. I could use some clothes for interviews and stuff when I graduate.” He leaned closely to her when he talked.

  Diane had been avoiding him for weeks because he seemed to delight in making her uncomfortable. Unlike most men of his age he intuitively knew he was beautiful and delighted in the power he held over women.

  “Ok sweetie, let’s get to it. I have pulled out some suits that might work and Mark’s old tux. I also got out some of his button downs on the bed for you. You can feel free to try them on and let me know if they don’t suit you. It won’t hurt my feelings.”

  Adam took off his top in front of her to try on the button downs. She felt a tightening in the bottom of her belly like a tire swing twisting on a rope. The warmth of flush overcame her as she turned her back so he could put a top on.

  “What’s wrong Diane?” he asked making her turn. He was standing with his top undone revealing the ripples of his chest. He smirked. He knew bloody well what was wrong.

  “Nothing Adam, you try the clothes on I think I need a cup of tea and a dip in the pool.” She said and turned to leave him.

  It was a relief when Betsey made her tea and she slipped into her swimsuit. A few laps would surely rid her of this. Diane thought it had been too long since she had sex. If Mark were still alive Adam would not have this effect on her.

  Diane put on her robe and drank her tea in the sun room. The sun splattered into the room hitting the predictable spots on the outdoor furniture they kept there. She watched her humming birds parry and elude attack. Betsey always filled their feeder and it had been her idea to have gardener put it out. Mark, at first, had objected. He later took great pleasure in watching his “little monsters” in their sugar wars.

  He also loved that Jacob would chatter away in the sunroom while he watched them. The primal reaction in a fat house cat was pretty hilarious.

  Adam came in the sunroom dragging a garbage bag filled with suits. “They all fit.” He looked repentant, “I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I am just used to changing in front of people. You know college and all.”

  “It’s ok Adam, you want some tea? I could get Betsey to bring you a cup.” He smiled, “Thanks that would be great”

  They sat in relative silence drinking the tea Betsey had made. Diane had offered for her to drink with them and she replied with her standard, “Ma’am that would be totally inappropriate.”

  Diane giggled at the properness of Betsey. Betsey was at least sixty-five and had no children. She had worked for her for the past fifteen years and Diane could not imagine life without her.

  As if responding to the thought Betsey walked in. She shot a disapproving glance at Adam. He had his feet on her table. Diane always thought of all of the furniture as Betsey’s. She cared for it and reminded people not to mistreat it. “Is there anything else Ma’am? It is my afternoon off.” she said, still glaring at Adam.

  “I am fine Betsey, I am just going to take in a swim.” she said smiling.

  Adam glanced at Diane and Betsey and grinned. He seemed to love the interaction of the women. Betsey turned and left.

  “I don’t think she digs me” Adam laughed.


  “Betsey is old fashioned.” Diane said. Diane had been a fully fledged member of generation X. She went to all of the parties, she and Mark slacked, they did all the drugs and now they were happily successful. They were. She kept forgetting Mark was dead. She sighed.

  “Mark?” Adam asked.

  ‘Intuitive kid.’ she thought.

  “Yeah, just thinking about all the fun we had. I am glad we were able to enjoy our lives together.” She said staring at the hummingbirds.

  “Are you sad you guys didn’t have any rug rats?” he asked in his most sincere tone.

  “Nah, we were happy. Neither of us wanted children.” She said and it was true.

  Adam got up and moved closer to her, he put his hand on hers. “Look, I get that you are sad. You have held up a long time,” he moved closer and put an arm around her, “If you need anything I am here for you.”

  It felt contrived, but there he was warm and pressed against her. He pulled back and she laughed, his t-shirt had a picture of a sofa on it that said “I pull out”. Indeed. He had on skinny jeans so tight she wondered how he even fit in them. Everything about his appearance was contrived, typical hipster.

  She laughed, it was the first good laugh she had since Mark died. Adam laughed, “What?”

  She looked at him, “You try too hard.”

  “Oh it’s hard alright.” He laughed and stepped back tugging at the front of his pants. Diane threw one of the napkins from the tea at his face and they both fell into a comfortable laugh.

  “I am sorry. You were trying to be nice. Thank you.” She said, “Thanks for the laugh.”

  “It’s ok, it is not exactly selfless. I really like you.” He said running his hand through his hair.

  “I like you too dear.” She said still laughing.